K, so the story starts about 3 years ago when at a paartaaaaay I was hit with this unbelievable pain in the back and upper stomach region. Seriously, it was like someone had driven their fist through the middle of my spine and buried itself in the upper part of my stomach. Some dry heaving, unbelievable sweats followed, nausea and this unrelenting pain eventually passed after about 30 mins. So I blamed it on menopausal nonsense and just one of those things. At this point I'm going to add in (with hindsight) that since this happened, I have had 'bouts' of unexplained nausea...a bit like morning sickness....no vomiting but that vile feeling of needing to be sick.

Anyways, 2 weeks ago....it happens again, the same symptoms, the horrendous pain, pain relief made no difference, I ended up laying down and waiting for it to pass which took about an hour.

Yesterday, I'm busy with a patient on a home visit and ****me it happens again...the worst pain ever! I ended up having to leave the room after 15 mins, go outside into the fresh air, hang over her gate where I threw up, held on for dear life as the world swam around my head and I sweated like a roasting pig. I am not joking when I say I honestly though I was having some weird heart attack. Okay, the pain wasn't in the chest, I had no arm pain or locking of jaw or any of those symptoms but the pain was something I can't even start to explain except it was 30 mins of ever increasing levels without a second of relief...and suddenly, it was over and I fine 100% okay if a little tired from that experience.

So I apologise to my patient, finish my appointment and I directly go home via the doctors surgery, told the receptionist I might have had a heart attack...so she squeezes me in to see the doc. Good news, the ol ticker shows no signs of heart attack. She's 99% sure its gallstones so next week I have to go give blood and wait for a scan to see if I have any sitting in there.

Of course, I have googled my little heart out and am I confused. I am not overweight, I don't drink, I am not a fatty food eater, I historically have low to good cholesterol levels, I eat little red meat. But I am a woman, over 40 and menopausal so I tick some of the boxes.

I am curious if anyone else has suffered with gallstones and any advice whilst I wait for the NHS to see me and confirm what the doc suspects?

Mhmm, they hit me hard too. Myself, I am very active, I eat very healthily, and about the worst of it is I used to drink different energy drinks from time to time. (Especially during the times I was working and going to school.) I started having what I thought was gas pains. That is exactly what it felt like. So I did the things one might do, to treat gas. Little did I realize, it was an inflamed gallbladder due to gallstones and some of the stuff I was doing, was EXACTLY what you did not want to do. :O

Does the pain come from under your lowest few ribs? Does it feel like gas? Does it slowly increase till it hits a point it can feel ungodly? Does this pain more commonly come up in the late afternoon or night? Does it seem certain meals or foods trigger it? Very possible that's what it is. That "vile feeling of needing to be sick" is just that. build up of bile. I can assure you that being sick will do just about nothing at all, to tame the pain. It will more than likely be nothing more than a repulsive tasting and smelling sickness that really doesn't help at all. It's fairly easy for them to check this as well, to make sure that gallstones are the issue. There are many different things you can do, to keep from those attacks, you need to really change your diet, though. There are a lot of natural foods you can eat, that will do two things. One is, they will keep from you having these attacks, and two, will help in reducing the size of the gallstones. Sadly, going that route its a very long process. Gallstones will not shrink and break up overnight.

Another possibility is just having your gallbladder removed. It's a fairly easy surgery. Here is a little information on how I had mine removed...

I am not saying this is the best course of action for you, that is something you and your doctor will have to discuss but I can tell you if this turns out being the right thing, afterward life go's right back to the way it was before you started having these problems. You will find some foods, you won't digest the same, some foods you may have to stay away from, but that pain... Well, it's instantly gone for good.

(Edit) Another thing to point out, a simple ultrasound will right away point out if you do have gallstones. It is something they can see right away, and there is no question about it. You should be able to get an answer within 3 to 5 seconds if you have them.

Thanks for the reply Manda Yes, the doc said no to antacids and heartburn stuff, she said it will actually aggravate the gallbladder. But no, the pain doesn't feel like gas at all, it hit me immediately in the top of the stomach and then spread to my back...then it just felt like I had been punched through my back into my stomach and the pain just escalated, and escalated with me feeling sicker and fainter by the minute. The top of my stomach did feel tender afterwards though and to me, I felt bloated. I was thinking about the time of day...the first time it was late at night and we were eating finger foods....sticky chicken wings, nuts, general nibbles of which they are probably all high cholesterol. Yesterday I ate a cheese sandwich on granary seed bread and a piece of fruit and the attack happened about an hour and a half later, so it could well have been triggered by the bread or cheese.

Overall I am very healthy, I swim about 3 times a week and walk a lot and I am at a healthy weight; I have to be honest, I always thought my diet was really good since I eat lean, chicken, veggies etc but clearly I need to look far more closely at what I eat and see what I need to change. The doc mentioned Ultrasound scans. She said the blood would show levels of something or other that will point at gallbladder and pancreatic issues and that she will book me in for the scan. Although I really don't ever want to have that pain again, I am a bit wary of surgery since I am self employed and its always a worry taking any time off for surgery lol I will take a look at that link but I think it will have to be the way forward if gallstones do show as the issue.

Strangely enough I just found out tonight my father suffered from gallstones and had to have his removed 20 years ago. I wonder if it can run in families?

Thank you again for the reply Manda, some good pointers and lots for me to look into

The cheese yes, the finger foods, yes. The pain would be similar to a deep gas pain, not your typical gas pains but from what you describe tells me it is for sure your gallbladder. Remember though that I do have a history in the medical field, but I am not a doctor, and only your doctor's word should be taken 100%. That being said, get that ultrasound. Your doctor will do other tests, as that is just what they do. Instead of relying on one single thing, it's much better to take multiple tests that match all the symptoms you are having, but again, it really sounds like gallstones.

As for the surgery. Well, its very very easy to make it through. The recovery time is really quick. It is possible you will be back out and about within a day or two. Generally, though, plan for at most a week recovery time within the hospital. After one week, you will be perfectly fine for light duty tasks. You just won't want to go and lift up a couple 150-pound boxes. Haha. The pain you will have after the surgery will be minimal. Mostly it's just a bit of discomfort and very little actual pain. So comparing the two, gallstone attacks and that discomfort, you will greatly appreciate the discomfort any day.

When it comes to this type of thing, and how almost impossible it is to break up a gallstone without removal, this surgery is by far the best treatment. Based on recovery time, how simple the procedure is, and how safe it actually is compared to a very long time of living on an extremely bland diet of foods that have no real taste, the cost of the right stuff to actually break down a gallstone (try it yourself, go grab a couple small round rocks, and softly splash them with water, and try and break them down. ;p) it becomes very clear that the surgery is just your best option.

Do remember, the information I am giving you is only based on the fact you do have gallstones. Again, I can never stress this enough but what your doctor says is what you want to go by. Anything I or the internet has to say is only enforcing information and should never be taken as advice on what to actually do, just information to have when you do talk with your doctor. (turns nurse mode back off) ;p

See if this information pertains to you. Looks like from what you said, some of it already does. Stay away from fatty foods. No cheese, skinless chicken. Keep clear of antacids as the doctor said and no mustard. (Trust me on the mustard, you will regret eating it if you do.) If you have a juicer, break it out. Juiced veggies and fruits will be good. Smaller meals that are broken apart is also something you will find helpful. Basically, what you are trying to do is keep your gallbladder from being triggered. Do a little study into what a gallbladder does for you, and you will have a much better understanding of why it's being triggered into this type of pain.

I had the same symptoms, and being a Nurse, I ignored the pain until one night it woke me up out of sleep,and I swore I was having a heart attack. I was rushed to the ER and after a bunch of tests, they discovered I had gallstones with blockage, and I was rushed into surgery for removal. It was by far, the worse pain ever...I literally thought I was gonna die. The doctors said it was a good thing I had come in..blockage is bad. I now have some pretty cute little scars, and one on my bellybutton that looks like a little ladder...Good luck with yours Daize.

I had kidney stone and thought I was dyin' too , normally I was told its from phosphorus in things like soda . .
Mine wasn't phosphorous related but a calcium deposit so was told to cut back on milk products , cheese and so on .

It was all the same symptoms , sweating , cramps but without the naseau . Alike MandaMarie once mine passed they
did ultra-sound to be sure . Before that when I went 1st went to the hospital for it they put me in the big MRI scanner .
I'd read lemon juice will help prevent and break it down , not sure if that works the same for gall stone but perhaps ?
One thing I was told is its an old wives tale to drink cranberry juice would make it feel worse so since then even though
mine hasn't come back I avoid drinking that or eating those lil craisins which I liked .

Thank you all for the tips and advice, I certainly feel reassured by the symptoms you are describe...I seriously thought I was having a heart attack so to hear everyone else describe the same pain and feeling is reassuring in a strange way lol Guy, I feel for you big time, I've heard Kidney stones are even more painful that gallstones so I dread to think what you went through!

I'm now making up a list of foods to avoid til I get this confirmed and taken out...my dad said said since he had his gallbladder out he's more gasey and burpy lol Something to look forward too! lol

Yes after the removal of it, digestion will become a bit different. More than likely you will share the same as your father. Some things you eat may not digest the same as they do now and your diet may have to change a little, but one of the great things is, you get to eat cheese again.

You can be affected by gas a bit more as well, I know that now I can sometimes get pretty bad gas pains if I eat certain foods. I try and keep away from them, though. Flaming hot Cheetos were my favorite snack, but these days I can't eat them as often. It will be mostly trial and error to find how some foods may affect your body chemistry. A good rule of thumb is, ask your father as you and him share the same makeup, so more than likely the foods that affect him, will have the same effect on you.

Also, gallbladder pain like that is one of the worst pains (depending on how inflamed your gallbladder is). When it travels like that to what feels like your spine, makes me think yours is probably in a bad state. Mine lasted for 2 years, and I never knew what it really was. It started out fairly light, and most of the time I was able to just cope with it, for the hour it lasted. It became a part of my normal day to day until it came to that point the pains would last for 10 to 12 hours.

For now, think bland foods. Not too much spice, not too greasy, keep clear of too much saturated fats, drink only sodas that are clear or very light in color. No dark sodas. Water, water, water is always good, though. White meat chicken and rice is good, a little dash of salt. Sadly you are very limited on the foods you can eat with gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder like that (if that is what this problem truly is). Changing your diet now, however, to a diet for gallstones won't hurt you either. It isn't exactly unhealthy so just trying it, even before knowing will only be helpful, or do nothing at all for you. It won't harm you so, better to be safe for now, until you know.

on the bright side, gallstones are way less painful then kidney stones. sometimes a hot shower will help with the gallstones. but eventually your gallbladder will have to be removed. spicy foods and foods with grease can set off an attack.

I've heard that kidney stones are even worse.....I count myself lucky in that case because I cant even imagine the pain involved if its worse lol

I am learning fast what sets off the biliary bile....and so far, no flareups...I'm hanging in there

I'd guess like most things there are diets you can use to fix the issues , diets as in eat the right stuff as the body is amazing at curing itself
if you provide the right fuels . Live healthy by eliminating stress and finding the causes then avoiding them . I'd avoid drinking out of plastic
if possible as that may cause a lot of inflammation issues , buy a water filter and when you cant use that choose glass bottles . There is a lot
to research and my time is very limited right now or I'd look more into it than being generic advice . Wishing well .

Finally, after nearly 3 months of waiting - an appointment to see the consultant in February. I'm so looking forward to having this damned gallbladder out. All this 'fatty foods will set it off' crap is crap. Anything and everything sets it off in my case. Having done a bit of homework and spoken to a friend who was an animal vet, then had his own drugs laboratory and ended his career on the UK's board of NICE (basically, he knows his shit) EVERY time you eat....your gallbladder starts to produce bile which contains the enzymes to break down food. Which explains why a bloody grape can send me all jittery. However, if the food you are eating is fatty, more bile is needed, hence the gallbladder continues to spasm and do its thing....increasing the risk of a stone floating past the bile duct entrance and getting sucked in. So I've stopped trying to work out what foods trigger me off as there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I still avoid fatty foods and thank the powers that be that so far, all my attacks have been short ones - hurt like a bitch but haven't lasted more than an hour.

I'm just hoping that after seeing the consultant, I get my operation fast. Got to love the NHS

Finally, after nearly 3 months of waiting - an appointment to see the consultant in February. I'm so looking forward to having this damned gallbladder out. All this 'fatty foods will set it off' crap is crap. Anything and everything sets it off in my case. Having done a bit of homework and spoken to a friend who was an animal vet, then had his own drugs laboratory and ended his career on the UK's board of NICE (basically, he knows his shit) EVERY time you eat....your gallbladder starts to produce bile which contains the enzymes to break down food. Which explains why a bloody grape can send me all jittery. However, if the food you are eating is fatty, more bile is needed, hence the gallbladder continues to spasm and do its thing....increasing the risk of a stone floating past the bile duct entrance and getting sucked in. So I've stopped trying to work out what foods trigger me off as there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I still avoid fatty foods and thank the powers that be that so far, all my attacks have been short ones - hurt like a bitch but haven't lasted more than an hour.

I'm just hoping that after seeing the consultant, I get my operation fast. Got to love the NHS

Thats good to hear sweetie, keep us updated with how the operation goes Hopefully the pain will be a thing of the past soon!